Sustainable Development: The Role of Women’s Collectives

Recognizing the strength of collectives, PRADAN works with SHG members to encourage women to step out of their homes and work for a shared and common purpose of identifying and resolving village issues, thereby leading to development as also to an increase in individual confidence and standing in their villages

O ne day, during a Cluster meeting, I heard a statement which grabbed my attention, as it did of the other members of the SHG. “Hum samooh khaali apan khatir ta nahi banaye hain, baki gaon ke manayi ke bachcha bhi ta hamare bachcha jaisan hau (We have not formed this group just for ourselves. The other children of the village are like our children too).” This statement was made by Neeta Singh, an SHG member, who had come to seek help from the group.

During the meeting, the women discussed the status of the anganwadi of Phuljhar village. This small village is a part of the Bakhul panchayat, in Deosar block, Singrauli district, Madhya Pradesh. There were allegations about the anganwadi worker that the food that the children were getting was not proper—in quantity as well as quality—and also that the anganwadi was open only once a week on Tuesdays instead of on all the prescribed days.

Another issue the SHG faced was that the member, who prepared the food, was from their own group. It was difficult for them to go against their own member. They, therefore, decided that before taking any action against her, they would try to make her understand the difficulties that her actions were causing. And if she didn’t agree, they would then lodge a complaint with the higher authorities.